Lorde is making her return. The New Zealand singer has officially announced that a new single, titled “What Was That,” is on the way. The track will be her first official release in four years and is expected to drop “soon.”
The announcement was shared across her social media accounts, where she unveiled the song’s title along with what seems to be the single’s cover art — a close-up shot of Lorde in a red shirt, her face glistening with sweat. The photograph was taken by American artist Talia Chetrit.
Prior to the announcement, Lorde had hinted at her return by previewing “What Was That” on TikTok and through a voice message to fans, referencing the long gap since her last project, Solar Power.
“I just wanted to say hi, because everything is about to change,” she said. “These are the last moments where it’s just us, which is crazy. But so right. I’m so ready.”
Her TikTok debut featured a video of her strolling through Washington Square Park in New York City while listening to “What Was That.” In the clip, Lorde sings: “Since I was 17, I gave you everything/ Now we wake from a dream, well baby, what was that?”
Lorde has been more visible lately. Just this past weekend, she made a surprise appearance during Charli xcx’s Coachella main stage set, joining her on stage for a live performance of “Girl, So Confusing,” a remix featured on Charli’s Brat remix album. The two also shared the stage last September in New York.
My new song What Was That. Out soon.
Shot by Talia Chetrit https://t.co/GtxEmWitUA pic.twitter.com/Yp8YCJSp7L— Lorde (@lorde) April 16, 2025
